Karen M. R. Townsend, Ph.D

2019 Go Red for Women Luncheon Keynote Speaker 

Whether delivering keynote presentations to corporate executives who lead Fortune 500 companies, conducting seminars for educators who are impacting the lives of today’s diverse students, or encouraging busy working women to make themselves a priority, Karen M.R. Townsend, Ph.D. is an inspiring speaker whose messages are timely and relevant. As president and CEO of KTownsend Consulting, Dr. Karen works with leaders to create inclusive environments and to build strong teams so that they can effectively meet the needs of their diverse clients and customers. She is also the founder of “About My Sisters” an organization on a mission to empower one million women and girls. In 2018, her annual conference, “Sister To Sister” celebrated its 25th Anniversary and was recognized as one of the longest running women’s events in the United States. 

A Dayton resident, Dr. Karen holds degrees from Kentucky State University, The Ohio State University and the University of Dayton. She also received specialized training in diversity education and inclusion from the International Multicultural Institute. She is a recognized subject matter expert whose articles on diversity have been featured in local, regional and national publications and media outlets.  

As an author and advocate for women, Dr. Karen’s first book was inspired by her own quest to find life balance. It All Started When I Stopped Using Lotion:  One Woman’s Journey From Chaos to Calm encourages women to “Take their TiME: Time for ME!” Organizations throughout the country are currently using “The Lotion Book” to support the professional development and career advancement of high potential women leaders. Her next book Confessions of a Superwoman: Real Stories from Real Women about Real Life will be released later this year.  

Dr. Karen has served on numerous non-profit boards including the Dayton Urban League and YWCA Dayton. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Tabernacle Baptist Church and the Kentucky State University Alumni Association. 

Dr. Karen’s honors and awards include being commissioned to the Honorable Order of The Kentucky Colonels in recognition of leadership and community service; being named “Outstanding Alumnus” by the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education; being featured in the Cincinnati/Dayton Success Guide in recognition of her professionalism, commitment to community service and volunteerism; and being included in the Cincinnati/Dayton edition of Who’s Who. Dr. Karen was named a Woman of Influence by YWCA Dayton, one of the 25 Women to Watch by Women in Business Networking and she received the Heart of Gold award from Eta Phi Beta Sorority. Most recently, she was selected as a 2019 Dayton Skyscraper for her commitment to serve inner city youth. Of all her honors, awards and accomplishments, Dr. Karen says that she is most proud to hold the title of wife and mother, and she always insists that her husband, Sylvester, and their daughters, Syron and Kaelyn are listed among her greatest life achievements.